Horizontal Directional Drilling Basildon

Trenchless technology enabling Horizontal Drilling underground, with the ability to steer to avoid obstacles in the ground.

Trenchless Technology has revolutionised underground installation

EPS Trenchless Installations advocates this revolutionary approach, offering a range of innovative solutions that remove the need for disruptive excavations. By leveraging state-of-the-art techniques such as Moling and Directional Drilling, EPS Trenchless Installations delivers efficient and cost-effective alternatives for laying and repairing underground utilities.

Horizontal Drilling Services in Basildon

Trenchless technology enabling Horizontal Drilling underground, with the ability to steer to avoid obstacles in the ground.

What is Horizontal Directional Drilling?

Directional Drilling is a technique for installing utilities such as Water pipes, Electric Cables and Gas pipes underground along distances up to 250 metres. State of the art Directional Drilling equipment can be steered deeper underground or around obstructions blocking its path.

This removes the need to dig long, unsightly, messy trenches to lay pipes and cables. Directional Drilling creates neat accurate bore holes under the ground, which utilities can be pulled back through.

The whole process is fast, cost effective, and kind to the environment, with minimal surface damage.

Installation sizes and rates

INSTALLATION RATES

Metres/day
1

dependent on the required diameter and the ground conditions

distances

Metre pipe lengths
1

(subject to pipe size and ground conditions)

ACCURACY

+/- mm
1

ground dependent

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About Basildon

Basildon in Essex is situated in the southeast of England, around 25 miles east of Central London. With a population of approximately 185,000 Basildon is a significant urban area in Essex. Basildon’s modern development began in the mid-20th century, following its designation as a new town in 1949. The town was built to accommodate London’s overspill population and to provide housing and employment opportunities for people displaced by the housing shortage in London after World War II. The development of Basildon led to the creation of several neighbourhoods, shopping areas, and industrial areas. Before its development, Basildon was a small rural village with a history dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. The name “Basildon” itself is derived from the Old English words “Basil” and “dun” (hill), indicating a hill associated with a person named Basil.

Historically, the town was known for its industrial base, particularly in car manufacturing. The Ford Motor Company established a major factory in the area in 1960, which was a key employer for many years. Today, the industrial and manufacturing sectors have diversified, with a growing number of service industries, technology firms, and logistics companies.

Basildon has good transport links, making it an attractive location for commuters working in London. The town is served by Basildon railway station, which is on the London, Tilbury, and Southend Railway line, providing direct services to Fenchurch Street station in London, with journey times of around 40 minutes. Basildon also has easy access to the M25 motorway, connecting the town to London and other major cities.

As Basildon has grown, the demand for commercial spaces and office buildings has also increased. Significant projects have been undertaken to expand and modernise commercial areas. The town centre has undergone regeneration to improve retail, leisure, and office space. Developments around the Eastgate Shopping Centre and Festival Leisure Park include new retail outlets, restaurants, and leisure facilities, along with office spaces designed to attract businesses and boost the local economy. Basildon has several business parks that offer office and industrial space, particularly for companies in logistics, manufacturing, and technology sectors. Notable areas like Southfields Industrial Estate and Basildon Enterprise Park have seen significant construction to cater to the needs of modern businesses.

Construction in Basildon continues to evolve as the town grows and diversifies. From the creation of a new town in the post-war era to modern-day housing, commercial, and infrastructure projects, the construction sector plays a vital role in shaping Basildon’s future. Ongoing development projects focus on meeting housing demands, enhancing the town’s commercial appeal, and improving infrastructure, all while addressing sustainability and economic growth.

Ground Conditions in Basildon for Moling and Directional Drilling

The ground conditions in Basildon for underground drilling can vary due to the town’s history, location, and geology. Basildon is known for a mix of clay, sand, gravel, and some chalk, depending on the specific location. Understanding the local ground conditions is important when planning for underground drilling, as these factors can affect the feasibility and costs of drilling projects, such as for utilities, foundations, or geotechnical investigations.

The geology of Basildon is influenced by the region’s position within the Thames Basin and its proximity to the Thames Estuary. This results in varied ground conditions. Much of the area around Basildon is underlain by London Clay, a dense, impermeable clay that can make drilling difficult, especially for deeper excavations. London Clay is a soft, over-consolidated clay that can present challenges in terms of stability and material handling when drilling. In some areas, you may encounter glacial sands and gravels, particularly along river valleys or areas that were once near the sea.

The depth of the water table in Basildon can vary depending on local conditions. Areas near the Thames Estuary or the River Crouch may have a relatively high water table, which could present challenges during underground drilling. High groundwater levels may require dewatering systems or other measures to manage water infiltration during drilling. Areas underlain by chalk or gravel may have a more permeable subsoil that could result in higher groundwater flow. This is an important consideration for projects like drilling for water, installing boreholes, or even for certain foundation types. Groundwater can also complicate drilling for utilities like gas, water, and electricity, requiring special techniques to prevent flooding and ensure safety.

Underground drilling in Basildon presents a variety of challenges due to the diverse ground conditions. Clay deposits like London Clay can make drilling more difficult, while gravel, sand, and chalk layers may offer a more straightforward drilling process. The high water table, particularly in areas near the Thames Estuary, adds an additional layer of complexity. Any underground drilling project in Basildon should consider the local geology, water table conditions, and environmental regulations to ensure efficient and safe execution.

Our Complete Horizontal Directional Drilling Process

1. SURVEYING

We start with conducting a detailed survey, a site visit, and the use of online technology to check geological information

2. PLANNING

From conception to completion, EPS will work in partnership with you, planning and advising you on the best way to complete your project

3. DRILLING

The directional drilling process is handled professionally and meticulously by our fully qualified engineers from start to finish

4. COMPLETION

We leave your site clean and clear of all materials and debris, providing an end-to-end service and complete reinstatement and site clearance.

About EPS Trenchless Installations

EPS provide underground utility installation that is fast, efficient and environmentally friendly.

Using Moling and Directional Drilling technology, our streamlined process requires minimal space which avoids unnecessary disruption and inconvenience.

There is no need for extensive surface cutting or digging long trenches. ‘No-dig’ techniques are very adaptable to various soil conditions and protected locations.

This technique provides accurate utility installation, which also protects wildlife and any ecologically sensitive locations. It is an incredibly cost-effective method of replacing old utility systems or installing new utilities.

Environmentally Friendly Solution for Underground Installation Projects

Minimising the ecological footprint and damage to the environment is an essential when installing utilities and services underground. We integrate environmentally friendly practices into every aspect of our directional drilling process. From careful planning to efficient execution, we endeavour to minimise disturbance to natural habitats and reduce emissions.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI):

Protected areas contain unique ecosystems, rare species and geological formations or habitats and are often protected by law.

The use of trenchless technology is a non-invasive approach which ensures the protection of areas of special conservation interest.

ROOT PROTECTION ZONES (RPZ):

Cutting or damaging tree roots threatens the health and stability of trees, potentially resulting in decline or even death. HDD drilling provides a non-invasive approach that is carefully planned to define a precise path that avoids tree roots. This significantly reduces the risk of root damage in these specialised zones.

ANCIENT WOODLANDS:

This type of conservation area provides a specialist approach, and directional drilling provides the ability to accurately determine subterranean trajectories, allowing successful installation without affecting the ground cover, damaging tree roots, or disturbing habitats.

CARBON FOOTPRINT:

Reducing our carbon footprint is at the forefront of our operations. Traditional excavation often involves extensive earth removal and high fuel usage due to heavy equipment and machinery. However, our No-Dig techniques use far less machinery and provide minimal disruption to the environment. This in turn reduce our environmental impact.

DIRECTIONAL DRILLING FAQs

Horizontal directional drilling, often referred to as HDD or trenchless technology, is an innovative technique for laying underground utilities such as pipes, cables, ducts, and conduits without resorting to conventional trenching. Instead of creating open trenches, this method starts with a pilot hole that is drilled diagonally from the surface toward a desired endpoint. After the initial hole is made, advanced drilling equipment enlarges and steers the hole in the desired direction while underground. This seamless process provides minimal damage to the surface ground and is not as invasive as conventional methods, saving our clients money and the hassle of restoring the area after large excavation work.

Our procedure starts by drilling a pilot borehole that follows a predetermined route. We then expand the hole along the trajectory established by the pilot bore, a process referred to as back reaming. Finally, the product pipe is pulled through the enlarged passage.

The machine we will choose for your project is dependent on your site and location. For our smaller and more fragile ecological sites, we will select our smaller HDD machine to ensure that we minimise disruption to the environment and protect delicate ecosystems. This smaller HDD machine is designed to navigate tight spaces and sensitive terrain with precision and care, allowing us to complete the job while minimising impact on the surrounding area. 

For larger sites that require greater power and capacity, we have larger HDD machines equipped to handle more demanding projects, whilst still maintaining little impact at your location. These machines are capable of tackling larger bore diameters and longer distances, providing the necessary strength and efficiency to complete the job effectively. 

No matter the size or complexity of your project, we have the expertise and equipment to ensure successful horizontal directional drilling while prioritising environmental conservation and minimising disruption to sensitive areas.

Directional drilling is utilised for laying utility lines and conduits, providing a more economical and minimally invasive option compared to conventional vertical drilling methods. 

This approach provides many advantages over conventional drilling as it is possible to lay or repair utility pipes, ducts, or cables, without excavations of large amounts of ground and provides options for laying pipes in sensitive or protected areas.

There are many advantages to employing horizontal and directional drilling. These are, minimal disturbances to surfaces, reduced environmental impact, cost savings, enhanced safety, and provides minimal disruption to utilities.

This is entirely dependent on the machine used for your location and ground conditions and/or obstructions. We will conduct a site visit and discuss the plan of action. Pipes from 25mm to 355mm diameters can be installed over distances of up to 200 metres in a single shot. Ducting, cables, and pipework can also be installed in either straight or curved lines.

No, it won’t. Our methods and trenchless technology will minimise disturbance in your location. Our approach ensures that we can carry out our work efficiently and effectively while keeping the impact on your surroundings to an absolute minimum. We will conduct a site visit before work takes place, talk through your requirements and we will evaluate the area to identify any obstacles or obstructions that may be present.

If you require work in protected or specialist areas, we can provide minimal disruption to the natural environment, ensure compliance with any relevant regulations or restrictions, and respect the integrity of the site.

We provide many trenchless solutions such as guided auger boring, moling, pipe bursting, pipe ramming, small footprint drilling, s50works, and fire hydrant testing.

We provide our expert trenchless solutions across a span of industries in the UK. Our industries include environmental remediation, water management, utility services, civil engineering and construction, and more.